On behalf of the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and the dti, South Coast Tourism is inviting interested parties to attend THE SOUTH AFRICAN EMERGING BLACK FILMMAKERS INCENTIVE briefing.
Date: 26th November 2014
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Venue: Studio 1, Upper Arcade at Spiller’s Wharf, Old Mill Road by Umzimkhulu River in Port Shepstone.
Queries:Adolphin/Sthe – 031 325 0200
Description
The South African Government offers a package of incentives to promote its film and television production industry. This includes the South African Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive, a subprogramme of the South African Film and Television Production and Co-Production Incentive, which aims to assist local film producers in the production of local content.
The South African Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive is available to South African black-owned qualifying productions with a total production budget of R1 million and above (see note 1 at base of this article).
The objective of the incentive is to nurture and grow emerging black filmmakers to take up big productions and contribute towards employment.
The incentive provides financial assistance to a qualifying applicant in the form of a rebate of up to 50% for the first R6 million of Qualifying South African Production Expenditure (QSAPE) and 25% thereafter. No cap is applicable for this rebate.
The incentive will be effective from 1 September 2014 (subject to paragraph 4.1 of the guidelines) and will be administered until 31 March 2017.
Eligibility Criteria
Commencement
• Principal photography should not commence until an approval letter has been received from the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti).
• Applications submitted without relevant supporting documents will not be considered.
Registered legal entity/Special purpose vehicle.
• An applicant must be a registered Special Purpose Corporate Vehicle (SPCV) incorporated in the Republic of South Africa solely for the purpose of the production of the film or television
project. The holding or service company or companies must have at least 65% South African black shareholders and the SPCV at least 75% South African black shareholders, of which the majority must play an active role in the production and be credited in that role.
• An applicant must be the entity responsible for all activities in the making of the production and must have access to full financial information for the entire production.
• Only one film production, television drama or documentary series per entity per application is eligible for the incentive.
• An applicant must comply fully with its obligations in terms of the Legal Deposit Act 54 of 1997.
Compliance with Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE)
• Both the applicant SPCV and holding or service company or companies must comply with the requirements for B-BBEE as issued in the Government Gazette of 11 October 2013, in terms of the Codes of Good Practice.
• Both the applicant SPCV and holding or service company or companies must achieve at least a level three B-BBEE contribution status in terms of the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice.
• At application stage, both the applicant SPCV and holding or service company or companies must submit a valid B-BBEE certificate issued by an accredited verification agency.
Shooting schedule requirements.
• At least 80% of the principal photography schedule must be filmed in South Africa.
• A minimum of two weeks of principal photography must be filmed in South Africa.
Eligible Applicants
Emerging Black Filmmaker Definition
To qualify for funding under this programme, local producers must meet the following requirements:
• Have a black producer or director who is credited for that role in the production;
• At least 65% of the holding or service company must be owned by a black person or persons of South African nationality;
• At least 75% of the SPCV must be owned by a black person or persons of South African nationality who play active roles in the production; and
• Been in existence, operational and involved in the film industry for at least six months with at least a 10-minute trailblazer or short film produced.
Programme Participation
• An applicant can participate up to a maximum of five times in this programme, which is aimed at supporting the development of emerging black filmmakers in line with the programme objective (paragraph 3.3 of the guidelines).
Credit
• the dti must be credited in front for its contribution to the production.
• the dti logo must be made visible in all production marketing material, e.g. DVD covers, banners and posters.
Rebate Disbursement
The rebate is disbursed on completion of the production or may be paid after reaching certain milestones.
Applicants wishing to make use of the milestone payment method must acquire a completion bond.
Note 1: There is a separate programme guideline document for the South African Film and Television and Co-Production Incentive targeted at attracting South African productions and official treaty co-productions with total production budgets of R2.5 million and above.
Issued by:
© Department of Trade and Industry, 1 September 2014.
Incentive Design and Administration Division
The Department of Trade and Industry
77 Meintjies Street
Sunnyside
Pretoria
0002
the dti
Private Bag X84
Pretoria
0001
the dti Customer Contact Centre: 0861 843 384
Website: www.thedti.gov.za
